mayol



JNVENTCR. Haul Edlqyd ATTORNEYJ May 8, 1928.

I E. MAYOL LEAD PENCIL Filed May 14. 1927 Patented May 8, 1928.

I UNITED sr FRANK E. MAYGL, E YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

LEAD PENCIL.

Application filed may 1a, 1927. eel-19.1 no. 191,446.

This invention relates-to lead pencils.

The primary object of theinvention is 'to' mechanical pencils, inorder that a sharp pointed lead may be available at any time desired by the user. Y

A more specific object of the invention is comprises the idea of forming leads with a decidedly tapered point and connecting these leads together by inter-posing tubular sections of material such as paper,which tubular sections are detachably secured to the it leads to expose the point of an unused lead when desirable.

Another object of the invention is to extend the tubular sections downwardly over a portion of the lead for the purpose of reinforcing or strengthening the lead at the point where the leads ordinarily break near the metallic containers of the mechanical feeding apparatus.

Numerous other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following drawin s, in which J I ig. 1 is an elevation of the p'encil,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, and

Fig. 3 is a detailed view partly in section.

Automatic or mechanical pencils now in vogue are usually equipped with a thick lead or a thin lead. Thick lead affords no writing point whatsoever and is entirely unsuitable for general use. The conventional thin lead, however, is extremely fragile and continually breaks during the normal pressure to which the average user of a pencil subjects the same when writing.

As will be apparent from the following description, my invention comprehends the provision of a number of relatively thick leads provided with tapered points, together with interconnecting devices for such leads which are so constructed that a fresh pointed lead section maybe exposed for writing purposes when needed.

With respect now to the drawings, 1 designates what I term herein as a writing shaft, comprising a plurality of leads connected togetherby hollow tubular sections 2 which are detachably securedto the leads in a manner to be hereinafter described. 3 designates the leads I employ which are sharply tapered as at 4C, and provided with a circumferential shoulder 5, a shank 6, and

a circumferential recess 7 provided underthe lower-portion of the shoulder 5. The tubular sections 2 are preferably constructed of paper, and are provided with an inturned flange 8 at their-upper ends for engaging the recess 7. The shanks 5 of the various leads fit within the confines of the tubular sections 2, as clearly shown in the drawing. The shoulders 5 space the adjacent ends of the sections 2 apart, which sections abuttingly engage the shoulder.

Tn order to permit ready detachability of the section from a new lead when a fine point is desired, 1 preferably slit the sections as shown at 9 so that they may be spread apart as shown in Fig. 2 to thereby disengage the section from the lower portion of the lead and render it available for use.

The'lower port-ions of the tubular sections 2 surround the shank of the lead in such a way that the lead is reinforced at the point where it frequently breaks off with the ordinary mechanical pencil, namely, against the side of the terminal portion of the metallic casing. The shank portions of the leads are more or less permanently connected with the tubular sections 2, while the upper portions of such sections afl'ord a free joint with the recesses formed in the leads by virtue of the slotted arrangement of the tubular sections. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the writing shaft may be employed with or without a mechanical pencil of the automatic type, it being necessary in the latter case to merely so place or treat the shoulders of the leads that they will not soil the hands of the user.-

The'term-lead as used herein is intended to embrace crayons or other Writing substances, and I do not intend to limit the following claims to the literal meaning of the term lead.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A writing shaft adapted for mechanical lead pencils, comprising a multiplicity of lead sections, tubular members connecting engaging the recesses, said flanges being slotted to permit spreading action thereof to disengage the sections from the lead.

3. A writing shaft for use in connection with automatic pencils comprising; a. multiplicity of superimposed leads and connecting tubular members detachably securing saidleads together, shoulders on the leads fitting within the confines of the lower portions ofthe tubular members, said members being clisengageable from the lower portions of the leads to thereby expose a new lead point when desired.

4. A writing shaft comprising a plurality ofsuperposed, spaced apart leads, said leads being'provided with a shank, shoulder, and recesses, tubular members detachably securing said leads together, the lower portions of the tubular members tightly receiving the shanks, and the upper portions of said tubu lar members being provided withinturned flanges fitting said recesses and abuttin'gly engaging the lower portions of the said shoulders of the leads.

In testimony whereof I afiix .myisignature.

' FRANK E. MA'YOL. 

